Short answer: Yes, you can use DiDi in China without a Chinese phone number. Download the DiDi app (or use the DiDi mini-program inside Alipay or WeChat) before you fly, sign up with your home phone number, add a payment method, and book in English. For most first-time visitors, DiDi is easier than flagging down a taxi, because the destination is typed, not spoken.
DiDi is China’s main ride-hailing app. It works in large cities and many smaller ones, although coverage, car types and wait times vary by city and time of day. This guide covers setup, booking, payment, safety and what to do when something goes wrong. For the wider picture, see How to Get Around Chinese Cities.
1. Set up DiDi before you arrive
Do this at home, on Wi-Fi, not at the airport in a hurry:
- Download DiDi from your usual app store. If the standalone app is not available in your region, open Alipay and look for the DiDi mini-program, or do the same inside WeChat. The mini-program route is often the simplest for visitors who already have Alipay set up or WeChat Pay.
- Sign up with your home mobile number and the SMS code it sends. You do not need a Chinese number for a basic account.
- Add a payment method. International cards linked through Alipay or WeChat Pay are the usual route; check in the app which methods your account actually accepts, because availability varies by card and region.
- Save your hotel address in Chinese characters. Copy it from your booking confirmation. You will paste it again and again, for DiDi, for taxis and for delivery.
- Turn on location permission and, if the app offers it, switch the interface language to English.
First-timer tip: Take a test look at the app before you fly. Open it, switch to English, and check that your payment method shows as active. You do not need to book a ride to do this.
2. Book a ride, step by step
- Open DiDi and check the blue dot is at your real location. If it is not, move the pin or type the pickup point.
- Type your destination in English first; if the app does not find it, paste the Chinese name or address from your hotel, ticket or map app.
- Choose a car type. The cheapest option is usually a standard private car; larger cars, premium cars and, in some cities, taxis booked through DiDi cost more. The app shows an estimated fare range before you confirm — treat it as an estimate, not a fixed price, because traffic and route changes move it.
- Confirm, then watch the driver’s plate number, car colour and model. Match all three before you get in.
- Share the trip in the app with a travel companion if that option is available, especially at night or from an airport.
3. Paying for a DiDi ride
Most visitors pay inside the app, so there is no cash discussion with the driver. If you booked through Alipay or WeChat Pay, the ride is normally charged to that account. Keep a small amount of cash as a backup in case a payment method fails, as explained in Money in China. If a charge looks wrong, do not argue in the car: pay what the app shows, screenshot the trip, and dispute it in the app afterwards.
4. DiDi, taxi or metro — which to choose?
| Option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| DiDi | Airport arrivals, luggage, late nights, places the metro does not reach | Surge pricing at rush hour, rain and big events; wait times in small cities |
| Metro | Cheap, fast cross-city trips in big cities | Closing times, crowds at rush hour, station exits |
| Street taxi | Short hops when a taxi is already there | Refused meters, language barrier, unlicensed touts at stations and airports |
As a rule of thumb: metro for the long leg, DiDi for the first and last leg, taxi only from an official rank with the meter on.
5. Common DiDi problems and fixes
- Driver cancels: Rebook. It happens, especially at busy times. Do not chase the car or negotiate off-app.
- Driver cannot find you: Send a message through the app, use the Chinese address, or walk to a clear landmark such as a hotel entrance or metro exit and reset the pin.
- Language barrier: Keep messages short and use the in-app translation tools and the Chinese address. See Translation Apps for China for the tools that work offline.
- Payment fails: Switch to your backup payment method in Alipay or WeChat Pay, or pay the driver as the app directs and sort the failed charge later. Never pay twice for the same trip without a receipt in the app.
- Left something in the car: Use the app’s lost-item route for that trip as soon as possible, and message the driver through the app rather than calling directly.
6. Safety checklist for DiDi
- Match plate, colour and model before getting in.
- Sit in the back, wear a seatbelt, and keep valuables out of sight.
- Do not accept a ride from a driver who approaches you at an airport or station and offers to go off-app.
- Keep your phone charged and your hotel address saved in Chinese. See Is China Safe for First-Time Visitors? for the wider safety picture.
Prices, car types and payment options change by city and over time. The fare estimate and the payment methods shown in the app on the day govern; do not rely on a single price quoted in any guide, including this one.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Chinese phone number for DiDi?
No. A home number that can receive SMS is normally enough for registration, and the Alipay or WeChat mini-program routes work with the accounts you already set up.
Is DiDi available in every Chinese city?
No. Coverage is best in large and medium cities. In smaller towns, rely on taxis from official ranks, hotel-arranged cars, and local buses.
Can I pay for DiDi with cash?
Most DiDi rides are paid in-app. Cash is a backup, not the normal method, and the app’s trip record is your receipt if a fare is disputed.